NEGOTIATIONS to secure a nationally consistent influenza program are ongoing between the community pharmacy sector and the State and Territory Governments.
With the deadline for ordering vaccine stock looming, Pharmacy Guild of Australia NSW Branch President, David Heffernan, told delegates at Mon's Pharmacy Industry Roadshow, that the organisation was pushing State, Terroritory and Federal officials to "get their act together so we can order [vaccines] now", to avoid the supply issues seen during this year's flu jab program.
Guild National President, Trent Twomey, added that governments across the country were "acutely aware we have to place our orders this month".
"What we've asked for is a decision by the end of Sep, on the structure of the program," Twomey said.
"We've asked for it to be a nationally consistent program, so by 01 Apr 2023 - hopefully Mar - [we can be ready].
"We won't have the MedAdvisor/GuildCare debacle, because it'll be one platform, which will be a good thing from a systems integration point-of-view.
"I doubt there will be a Commonwealth-funded program, so what we're aiming for is to get answers from the states earlier, so we can have national consistency, even though it'll be state-funded."
With an election scheduled for the third week of Mar in NSW, Heffernan added "it's a very good time to give the Government a nudge".
The Guild officials noted that community pharmacies delivered close to one-in-four of all flu shots given this year.
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